Aquatraders Metal Halide Replacement

[Buzz1329]

OK, king of the idiots checking in here.

In February I bought a 48" 716W Metal Halide System Advance Plus fixture from Aquatraders.

Looked great.

The 5 LED bulbs died one by one. But who needs them? I'm sailing along.

Today one of the MH died.

Sigh.

Can't say I was not warned. I was warned up the wazoo.

But maybe tomorrow, the MH light will come back and all be well.

But assuming I need to replace this fixture, what's the go-to metal halide fixture? Which of these 48" light fixtures would you recommend? Or if there's one that I'm missing, let me know.

CEBU SUN 2 x Mogul Base Metal Halide +T5 + LED Lighting System by Hamilton Technology -- $931 (includes shipping, electronic ballasts,
2 x 250 watt 10,000k MH bulbs, actinic blue T5 39 watt bulbs, dual cooling fans, and 12 actinic blue LED lights).

AquaticLife 2x150 Watt 14,000K, HID 2x54 Watt 420/460 NM T5 HO Light Fixture, and 4 Lunar LEDs $880

Captive Sun Hood Lighting System $625 - 2x175W MH + 2x110W VHO (bulbs not included)

Hamilton Belize Sun Light Fixture 2x250W 14,000K Metal Halide + 2x54W T5 HO $930

Thanks. I'd ask that you keep the I told you so's to a dull roar, but I'm not King Canute.

 

[sirreal63]

I have no idea who would have warned you about those lights...not here. lol At least there were no fires, just crappy components.

I wold also look at the AquaMedic line, pretty well built fixtures for the money.

 

[souperman]

Any chance you can throw a decent ballast in it and salvage what you have?

 

[sirreal63]

That can and has been done, but then you are left with the crappy reflectors they use and would be best to replace both ballasts and the wiring. It can be done but you have to wonder if it is worth it. Figure about $300 for ballasts and wiring will cost extra and then replace the bulbs before they stop working and suddenly you are getting close to the price of a fixture that you won't have to worry about or what will happen with the ballasts for the T5's. Replace those ballasts and the crappy reflectors behind them and you just bought a new fixture with an actual warranty.

 

[troyman]

yikes have a pail of water close buy and smores